Van Oord names its subsea rock installation duo being built in China

September 24, 2026, by Nadja Skopljak

Van Oord has named its two new subsea rock installation vessels (SRIVs) Vindnes and Vestnes, in line with the names of other vessels in the company’s SRIV fleet.

The SRIV duo, being constructed in China at the Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore shipyard, was designed by Norway’s Ulstein, will be equipped with a loading capacity of 35,000 tons, will be capable of handling large rock sizes, and will feature a DP2 dynamic positioning system.

They will include multi-fuel engines, for biofuel and methanol, a DC-grid with large battery storage capacity, and an energy-efficient hull design and rock handling system.

According to Van Oord, the names Vindnes and Vestnes, inspired by wind and the west, continue the naming tradition of the company’s SRIV fleet, complementing existing vessels such as Nordnes, Stornes and Bravenes.

Van Oord’s subsea rock installation vessel pair to sport TMC’s compressed air system

Vessels

The first vessel is expected to enter the market in 2028, with the second to follow in 2029.

“The need for secure and sustainable energy infrastructure has never been more important. With Vindnes and Vestnes, we are investing not only in additional capacity, but in a new generation of purpose-built subsea rock installation vessels designed around productivity, efficiency and sustainability,” said Maurits den Broeder, Managing Director Offshore Energy at Van Oord.

“As offshore projects become larger and more complex, our customers increasingly require solutions that minimise project duration, reduce emissions and deliver the lowest total installation cost. These vessels reflect our confidence in the continued growth of offshore energy, and reinforce Van Oord’s commitment to remaining at the forefront of seabed intervention.”